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Parasitology

Title:		"Role of kairomones in host location of the pennellid copepod parasite, Lernaeocera branchialis (L. 1767)"
Author(s):		Brooker AJ; Shinn AP; Souissi S; Bron JE;
Address:		"Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK. ajb3@stir.ac.uk"
Journal Title:		Parasitology
Year:		2013
Volume:		20130201
Issue:		6
Page Number:		756 - 770
DOI:		10.1017/S0031182012002119
ISSN/ISBN:		1469-8161 (Electronic) 0031-1820 (Linking)
Abstract:		"The life cycle of the parasitic copepod Lernaeocera branchialis involves 2 hosts, typically a pleuronectiform host upon which development of larvae and mating of adults occurs and a subsequent gadoid host, upon which the adult female feeds and reproduces. Both the copepodid and adult female stages must therefore locate and identify a suitable host to continue the life cycle. Several mechanisms are potentially involved in locating a host and ensuring its suitability for infection. These may include mechano-reception to detect host movement and chemo-reception to recognize host-associated chemical cues, or kairomones. The aim of this study was to identify the role of kairomones in host location by adult L. branchialis, by analysing their behaviour in response to fish-derived chemicals. Experiments demonstrated that water conditioned by immersion of whiting, Merlangius merlangus, elicited host-seeking behaviour in L. branchialis, whereas cod- (Gadus morhua) conditioned water did not. Lernaeocera branchialis are considered a genetically homogeneous population infecting a range of gadoids. However, their differential response to whiting- and cod-derived chemicals in this study suggests that either there are genetically determined subspecies of L. branchialis or there is some form of environmental pre-conditioning that allows the parasite to preferentially recognize the host species from which it originated"
Keywords:		"Animals Behavior, Animal Copepoda/*physiology Female Fish Diseases/*parasitology Gadiformes/metabolism/*parasitology Gadus morhua/metabolism/*parasitology Host Specificity Host-Parasite Interactions Parasitic Diseases, Animal/*parasitology Pheromones/*met;"
Notes:		"MedlineBrooker, A J Shinn, A P Souissi, S Bron, J E eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2013/02/02 Parasitology. 2013 May; 140(6):756-70. doi: 10.1017/S0031182012002119. Epub 2013 Feb 1"